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AS Sociology: Ethical Factors Influencing Choice of Methods

3.
Ethical Issues <ul><li>Ethics refers to moral issues of right & wrong. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Sociologists aim to be ethical in the way they study people. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>British Sociological Association (BSA) set out guidelines on how sociologist should conduct their research ethically. </li></ul></ul><ul><li>The BSA have five guidelines which we will now examine. </li></ul>

5.
Informed Consent <ul><li>People being studied (Research Participants) should have the right to refuse. </li></ul><ul><li>Participants should be fully informed about the study. </li></ul><ul><li>Consent must be obtained before research begins; if it is a very long study, periodic consent should be requested throughout. </li></ul>

7.
Confidentiality & Privacy <ul><li>Identities of participants should remain private. </li></ul><ul><li>Researchers need to respect the privacy of the participants-- guarding their private details and their contribution to the study should remain confidential at all times. </li></ul>

9.
Effects on Research Participant <ul><li>Researchers must be aware that research conducted may affect participants in a negative way. </li></ul><ul><li>Examples of negative effects: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Police intervention </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Harm to employment prospects </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Social exclusion </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Psychological damage </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Researchers must try to anticipate & prevent such occurrences </li></ul>

11.
Vulnerable Groups <ul><li>Include those who are vulnerable because of their age (very young/old), disability or physical/mental health issues. </li></ul><ul><li>Example: Children in schools. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Researchers must be mindful of child protection acts. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Obtain consent from both parent and child. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Researcher should use understandable language. </li></ul></ul>

13.
Covert Research <ul><li>Where researcher's identity & research purpose are hidden from those they wish to study. </li></ul><ul><li>Creates serious ethical issues-- seen as deceiving or lying in order to win/gain their trust or get information. </li></ul><ul><li>Researcher obviously cannot gain informed consent if they are doing covert research. </li></ul>

15.
Activity: Research Task <ul><li>Go to BSA's website and follow their link to their statement of Ethical Practice. </li></ul><ul><li>In the statement, find all the examples of where it is okay to ignore the ethical principles listed above. </li></ul><ul><li>Write down the examples and bring them to class. They will be used next lesson, so you will need them. </li></ul>